Violin tajl-piece



VIOLIN TAIL PIEOE. No. 336,428: Patented Feb. 16. 1886.

PATENT rricn.

JOSEPH R. PERRY, OF \VILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

VIGLIN TAlL-PEECE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,428, dated February 16,1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, Josnrn R. PERRY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at illies-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Violins, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to improvements in stringed musical instruments, having for its object, principally, to improve the tone of the instrument, while facility of attachment of the tail-piece is secured, together with the ready adjustment or adaptation of the latter toinstruments of any size. Besides, its application to the instrument is effected so as to obviate contact of the face of the player with the fastening of the strings and without the use of cords or strings to secure the tailpiece, the objection to the former being that the moisture or perspiration from the face is liable to reach the strings and affect the tone of the same, while in the case of the latter the securing-strings tear out ofthe tail-piece, thus requiring the frequent repairing of the instrument.

The invention therefore consists of the detailed construction of the connecting device for the tail-piece and its combination with the securing pin or peg and the tail-piece, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention as applied to the tail-piece of a violin or other stringed musical instrument. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, and Figs. 3, 45, and are modifications thereof.

In the embodiment of my invention I employ a bent metallic plate, A, having a lim ited amount of spring or elasticity, the same being curved or waved at the angle of its, bend, as at a-it may be as shown in Fig. l or as shown in Fig. 2. The plate is also provided with a longitudinal slot, 1), preferably made as shown in Fig. 1, when the plate is formed in a single piece, while when the plate is made in two pieces said slot may have the form shown in Fig. 4, all of which will fully be understood from said figures. This plate, as will be readily seen, is to effect a connection between-the tail-piece B and the breast of the instrument, whereby the use of strings (catgut) as previously employed, which tear out of the tail-piece, and thus require the repairing of the same, is obviated. Further, the moisture or perspiration of the face of the player, as is liable to come in contact with the instrument when it is in use, is not transmitted, as would be the case in connecting the tail-piece by catgut or strings to the breast,

to strings to the instrument, and the tone of the instrument is therefore not impaired from that source or cause in the use ofmy invention.

The plate A. is first secured by screws or otherwise to the tailpiece, the same being adjust-ed thereto according to the size of the tailpiece. It is then connected to the peg or pin (2, which is a permanent fixture of the breastinstrument, its slot being presented to the pin or peg, and the plate then slipped upon the peg or pin, the plate being turned when it reaches the base of the pin or peg, (which base is reduced in one direction to permit the ready passage thereof into the slot of the plate,) until it passes upon said base as thus presented, after which said plate is again turned so as to stand in its normal upright position, when it will be firmly locked by impingement against the greater width of said base of pin or peg. The arm of the plate A, fastened to the tail-piece, holds the latter elevated from the breast of the instrument in a slightly-upwardly inclined position to hold the tailpiece out of contact with the top or breast, and, being elastic or springy, allows, as the strings are drawn upon, more or less dcpression of the same, as may be desired.

The curvature or bend a of the plate A is to allow of elasticity when the strings are pressed upon hard by the how.

I am aware that it is not new to construct a tail-piece for violins of sheet metal having a wire hook soldered thereto for connection with the violin, and also that the wire hooks have been used on wooden tailpieces; but my invention is designed as an improvement over such devices, and by providing the wooden tail-piece with a metal plate I thereby avoid the A tail-piece for violins, consisting of the bent metallic plate curved or waved at the angle of its bend, and having a longitudinal 10 slot for connection with the peg or pin of the violin, and connected by screws to the wooden tail piece, substantially as shown and described. v a

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH R; PERRY.

Witnesses:

J. J. SOANLAN, PHILIP O N EILL. 

